Saleh Fareed
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Students, faculty and staff at Jeddah Prep and Grammar School (JPGS) celebrated International Peace Day at the weekend as a day of color, lectures and information sharing.
The theme of this year’s event was “partnerships for peace, dignity for all,” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together in striving for peace.
The school saw a plethora of activities, with students designing peace posters to exhibit, and teachers and students making short video clips with peace messages that they uploaded on social media.
This year’s guest of honor was Dr. Thoraya Obaid, a member of Shoura (Consultative) Council and former executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, and an under-secretary general of the United Nations from 2000 to 2010.
In her opening speech, Obaid invited all students and participants to reflect on peace and non-violence around the world.
“Every year, International Peace Day is celebrated around the world,” she said. “The United Nations declared 21 September a day to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Peace does not mean just putting an end to violence or to war, but to all other factors that threaten peace, such as discrimination, inequality and poverty.”
Obaid also hoped that students learned the value of tolerance and mutual respect.
“I hope to spread the message of peace, forgiveness and brotherhood, and I appeal to everyone to distance themselves from racism, discrimination and violence in their verbal and physical forms,” she said.
The founder of the Mediation Gateway and organizer of the peace day event, Rosana Al-Tayyar, said she hoped it would bring positivity to the community and students.
“Our aim is to promote peace in schools and to raise awareness on peace and promote the children’s respect of each other regardless of belief, nationality and background,” she said.
The celebration was also especially memorable for children, who enjoyed a playful puppet show performance by Afroot, illustrating the basics of playground peacekeeping amongst children.
